Sites Project

Applicant	Sites Project Authority
Status	MCED Issued
Project Type	Surface Storage Projects Identified in the CALFED ROD
Public Benefits	Ecosystem Improvements, Flood Control Benefit, Recreational Purposes
Total Project Cost	$6,200,000,000 - $6,800,000,000
Maximum Conditional Eligibility Determination (MCED)	$875,396,369
Early Funding	$43,769,818

Projected Timeline

Environmental Documentation: The project’s Environmental Impact Report was completed in 2023. A federal Record of Decision is expected to be completed in September 2025.

Permits and Approvals: The Historic Preservation Act (Section 106), Clean Water Act (Sections 404 & 401), Water Rights, and water operation permits, are all expected by early 2026.

Public Benefit Contracts: Contracts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for refuge supply, and the Department of Water Resources for recreation and flood protection benefits are expected to be completed in March 2026.

Non-Program Funding: Agreements with project participants will be signed in April 2026.

* Completion dates are Commission staff’s best estimates based on applicants’ quarterly reports and other public information as of July 30, 2025.

The Sites Project Authority is proposing a surface storage project, the Sites Reservoir Project. The Sites Reservoir Project would be a 1.5 million acre-foot offstream surface storage reservoir located in the Sacramento Valley west of the town of Maxwell. The proposed reservoir’s conveyance facilities would include the use of existing Tehama Colusa Canal and Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District Canal diversion and conveyance facilities, plus a proposed new diversion and discharge pipeline. Sources of water would be Funks Creek and Stone Coral Creek, which would be impounded by the proposed reservoir and the Sacramento River. Operation of the proposed reservoir would be in cooperation with the operations of existing Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) system facilities.